Polarization

Polarization components are used in imaging applications to reduce glare or hot spots, enhance contrast, or to perform stress evaluations. Polarization can also be used to measure changes in magnetic fields, temperature, molecular structures, chemical interactions, or acoustic vibrations. Polarizers are used to transmit a specific polarization state while blocking all others. Polarized light can have linear, circular, or elliptical polarization.

Edmund Optics offers a wide range of dichroic, crystalline, and wire grid polarizers. Dichroic polarizers offer an excellent price to performance ratio and are available with large apertures. Crystalline Polarizers are ideal for laser applications due to their mix of high extinction ratios with high damage thresholds. Wire Grid Polarizers, which are ideal for broadband applications, utilize an array of microscopic wires to selectively transmit P-Polarized light while reflecting S-Polarized light. S-Polarized light is perpendicular to the plane of incidence, while P-Polarized light is parallel. Edmund Optics also offers a wide range of zero and multiple order waveplates, as well as more specialized polarization rotators and Fresnel Rhombs